Kempinski Hotels signed a new property with MAF Hospitality (MAFH) in Bahrain, MAFH’s second in the region, underscoring its continued growth in the Middle East and Africa region. This agreement follows the successful opening of the Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates earlier this year, the first joint venture between the luxury hotel group Kempinski and the MAF Hospitality group.

Kempinski will manage a five star luxury hotel located in the Bahrain City Centre development, one of Bahrain’s largest in recent years, opening during 2008.

TheBahrain City Centre development in the Seef district of Manama city includes two hotels, the five star luxury Kempinski hotel and a second, four star hotel, Bahrain’s largest shopping mall covering 150,000 m2, a Carrefour hypermarket and some 40 restaurants and cafés. The highlights are a massive indoor air-conditioned Water Recreation Park which will be the largest in the region and one of the world’s largest once completed, a 20-screen cinema and a Magic Planet family entertainment park. The Kempinski hotel will have 196 luxuriously appointed rooms and suites plus a city spa, fitness centre and restaurants.

Ulrich Eckhardt, Senior Vice President Middle East & Africa, is very pleased with the latest addition to Kempinski’s portfolio in his region, ‘Kempinski continues to focus its expansion in the Middle East region as the market potential here is huge. Our brand is enjoying success in the region and we are renowned for our commitment to superior service and quality standards. Bahrain’s economy is one of the fastest growing in the Gulf and its excellent infrastructure make the country an attractive choice for the many multinational companies who have set up operations there.’

With this newest project announced, Kempinski will open 7 hotels in addition to the 10 currently open in the Middle East & Africa, bringing its portfolio in the region to 17 by end 2009. The next opening scheduled in the region is the Djibouti Palace Kempinski, a 337-room five star luxury hotel and conference centre, which is set to open this November in Djibouti city.